Juneteenth National Independence Day is celebrated on June 19th each year in the United States. It commemorates the announcement of the abolition of slavery in Texas in 1865, which occurred two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation. This day marks the end of slavery in the United States and is recognized as a significant milestone in the ongoing struggle for civil rights. In 2021, Juneteenth was officially designated as a federal holiday, making it the first new federal holiday since Martin Luther King Jr. Day was established in 1983. Celebrations often include community events, educational activities, and reflections on the history and significance of freedom and equality.